I have read again and again on the post-op forum that newbies are "hungry" and "can eat anything and everything" they could eat BEFORE surgery. YES, THIS IS TRUE. Before you have restriction (via fills that tighten the band and press on the vegus nerve inhibiting the hunger hormone ghrelin) you will be hungry and because you don't have Fluid in your band you do NOT have restriction. So, be forwarned that (once the swelling from surgery goes down) if you want to lose weight AFTER surgery and BEFORE you reach (some) restriction, you are going to have to watch what you eat. And, yes, you will be hungry sometimes. It's called "bandster hell", but don't worry it doesn't last forever and we all get through it.

Also, this is a good time to learn when you are "physically hungry" and when you are "head hungry".

I am amazed at how many people are surprised that they have to participate in reaching their weight loss goal (i.e., changing their diet, being hungry sometimes). The band is a "tool". It only works as hard as you do. I am more surprised that surgeons are not explaining this to their patients BEFORE surgery. What's THAT about??

Hang in there folks, barring complications, this is a great WLS. It can "help" change your life.

As you will learn in the post-op forum, lapband surgery is not for everyone, but many, many people are succeeding with this surgery eveyday. I wish I had done it years sooner.

Knowledge is power folks ... read, read, read. And, read the post-op forum for experiences and information from those in the "know".

Good luck to all of you!

Thank you for this information. I am being banded on Jan. 27 and take in all the information..good, bad and the ugly!

I have read again and again on the post-op forum that newbies are "hungry" and "can eat anything and everything" they could eat BEFORE surgery. YES, THIS IS TRUE. Before you have restriction (via fills that tighten the band and press on the vegus nerve inhibiting the hunger hormone ghrelin) you will be hungry and because you don't have Fluid in your band you do NOT have restriction. So, be forwarned that (once the swelling from surgery goes down) if you want to lose weight AFTER surgery and BEFORE you reach (some) restriction, you are going to have to watch what you eat. And, yes, you will be hungry sometimes. It's called "bandster hell", but don't worry it doesn't last forever and we all get through it.

Also, this is a good time to learn when you are "physically hungry" and when you are "head hungry".

I am amazed at how many people are surprised that they have to participate in reaching their weight loss goal (i.e., changing their diet, being hungry sometimes). The band is a "tool". It only works as hard as you do. I am more surprised that surgeons are not explaining this to their patients BEFORE surgery. What's THAT about??

Hang in there folks, barring complications, this is a great WLS. It can "help" change your life.

As you will learn in the post-op forum, lapband surgery is not for everyone, but many, many people are succeeding with this surgery eveyday. I wish I had done it years sooner.

Knowledge is power folks ... read, read, read. And, read the post-op forum for experiences and information from those in the "know".

Good luck to all of you!

Good luck to you USMC Wife. I am sure you will do great!

And, thank your husband for me ... for serving and protecting this great nation. Hoorah!

I always had restriction... right from the start. the band is only about 1 1/2" in diameter, certainly that much give us some restriction? I guess it must work differently on different people, but I have always had some restriction since the very first day I left the hospital.

I have read again and again on the post-op forum that newbies are "hungry" and "can eat anything and everything" they could eat BEFORE surgery. YES, THIS IS TRUE. Before you have restriction (via fills that tighten the band and press on the vegus nerve inhibiting the hunger hormone ghrelin) you will be hungry and because you don't have Fluid in your band you do NOT have restriction. So, be forwarned that (once the swelling from surgery goes down) if you want to lose weight AFTER surgery and BEFORE you reach (some) restriction, you are going to have to watch what you eat. And, yes, you will be hungry sometimes. It's called "bandster hell", but don't worry it doesn't last forever and we all get through it.

Also, this is a good time to learn when you are "physically hungry" and when you are "head hungry".

I am amazed at how many people are surprised that they have to participate in reaching their weight loss goal (i.e., changing their diet, being hungry sometimes). The band is a "tool". It only works as hard as you do. I am more surprised that surgeons are not explaining this to their patients BEFORE surgery. What's THAT about??

Hang in there folks, barring complications, this is a great WLS. It can "help" change your life.

As you will learn in the post-op forum, lapband surgery is not for everyone, but many, many people are succeeding with this surgery eveyday. I wish I had done it years sooner.

Knowledge is power folks ... read, read, read. And, read the post-op forum for experiences and information from those in the "know".

Good luck to all of you!

This really annoys me, my surgeon vaguely mentioned this at my last appointment a few days before my surgery (which was Dec 13th 2010). I was so excited and nervous about the surgery that this just went in one ear and out the other until I started reading things on the forum. I thought something was wrong with me, I thought "Oh God am I such a pig that I'm starving and can still eat with a band?!" but no, I guess I'm normal. I would have really liked to be aware of this before hand. I went into this thinking I was finally going to have some control of my eating right away. I knew I would have to do a lot on my part too and it's not all the bands job to make me thinner but if I had warning I would have been more prepared for my "dieting" instead of being thrown into it. I guess it's my fault for not getting on the forums sooner and learning as much as I could from other bandsters. My Doctor gave out more information than anyone could consume, but this very important detail was just like "oh and by the way...." at the last minute, they got some nerve! Poo on these Doctors!

I always had restriction... right from the start. the band is only about 1 1/2" in diameter, certainly that much give us some restriction? I guess it must work differently on different people, but I have always had some restriction since the very first day I left the hospital.

Yes, there are some, but not many, that have restriction from the start that continues. But, check out the post op forum and you will find so many people that, after the swelling goes down, no longer have restriction. It is my understanding (but, trust me I am not an expert on this part), that sometimes when the band is installed it can have an immediate effect on the vagus nerve giving people that much needed feeling of fullness without a fill. Others have surgeons that put in a fill while installing the band. But, the vast majority of us have to get fills before our band is a "working tool".

Congratulations and continued success on your journey!

~Fran

Thank you for this information. I am being banded on Jan. 27 and take in all the information..good, bad and the ugly!

I think the description of bandster hell is totally on the mark. Rather than expecting it, or worrying to much about it, just know that it may hapen to you, but you can make it through it without too much trouble. Just keep your Protein high so you are as physically satisfied as you can be, don't drink with meals but do get in all your fluids, and journal so you know exactly what you are eating and when you are hungry (this will help you learn the difference between physical and emotional or head hunger) If you would like some more information about how to use your "tool" to optimize your success with your lap band you may want to join in our free call tomorrow night, Wednesday January 5 atThe Ten Lessons of Successful Lap Band Patients.

By the way, I didn't need a fill for over a year after my surgery so not everyone goes through bandster hell. I am definitely an exception though....

Good luck to all of you having surgery soon.

Thank you for that information, I have just started my fourth week after surgery, and have not felt too hungry, but today after work I was starving! I haven't felt this in the previous weeks, and after reading your post you are helping me understand that I have to work hard at this not only physically with exercise but also mentally.

I have read again and again on the post-op forum that newbies are "hungry" and "can eat anything and everything" they could eat BEFORE surgery. YES, THIS IS TRUE. Before you have restriction (via fills that tighten the band and press on the vegus nerve inhibiting the hunger hormone ghrelin) you will be hungry and because you don't have Fluid in your band you do NOT have restriction. So, be forwarned that (once the swelling from surgery goes down) if you want to lose weight AFTER surgery and BEFORE you reach (some) restriction, you are going to have to watch what you eat. And, yes, you will be hungry sometimes. It's called "bandster hell", but don't worry it doesn't last forever and we all get through it.

Also, this is a good time to learn when you are "physically hungry" and when you are "head hungry".

I am amazed at how many people are surprised that they have to participate in reaching their weight loss goal (i.e., changing their diet, being hungry sometimes). The band is a "tool". It only works as hard as you do. I am more surprised that surgeons are not explaining this to their patients BEFORE surgery. What's THAT about??

Hang in there folks, barring complications, this is a great WLS. It can "help" change your life.

As you will learn in the post-op forum, lapband surgery is not for everyone, but many, many people are succeeding with this surgery eveyday. I wish I had done it years sooner.

Knowledge is power folks ... read, read, read. And, read the post-op forum for experiences and information from those in the "know".

Good luck to all of you!

If you would like some more information about how to use your "tool" to optimize your success with your lap band you may want to join in our free call tomorrow night, Wednesday January 5 atThe Ten Lessons of Successful Lap Band Patients.

By the way, I didn't need a fill for over a year after my surgery so not everyone goes through bandster hell. I am definitely an exception though....

This is such a great idea/service, Sandi! Docs should recommend your site to bandsters BEFORE sugery!

And yeah, you were definitely one of the lucky ones not to need a fill for over a year. Whoever coined the phrase "bandster hell" did so before I was banded ... and if it were'nt a relatively common occurrence I don't think the phrase would still be around.

All the best to all!

~Fran

Seems like this would be a good thread to add a link to the article "It's Not about Restriction"

http://drsimpson.net/newsletter/March-2010-Lap-band-surgery-newsletter/March-2010-Lap-band-surgery-newsletter.html

For me it is about restriction and getting the proper adjustments to be at my sweet spot. I would say the band has done more than 85% of the "work".

Amen for that post. I have always been hungry even after a fill a year later but have lost 70lbs your stomach is still there it still works your going to be hungry. Even when you get restriction you will still be hungry at times only it will take longer this surgery in no way takes away hunger it just helps you to get full faster but you are going to be hungry that is such a misconception just like not having pain is so not going to happen.

Why are you so amazed at our surprise about being hungry? WHO tells you that? Not the surgeons who want to make the sale, not the bandsters who only tell you how much weight they've lost. Yes, it was QUITE the surprise to find how extremely hungry you are when you are told "you can eat about 6 bites and you are full"..NEWS FLASH FULL MEANS NOT HUNGRY....."and the full feeling lasts 3-5 hours." So yes, this is a surprise to say the least. Doesn't mean I wouldn't do it over again, but I would put it as a CON to this procedure that I should have been aware of beforehand.

Why are you so amazed at our surprise about being hungry? WHO tells you that? Not the surgeons who want to make the sale, not the bandsters who only tell you how much weight they've lost. Yes, it was QUITE the surprise to find how extremely hungry you are when you are told "you can eat about 6 bites and you are full"..NEWS FLASH FULL MEANS NOT HUNGRY....."and the full feeling lasts 3-5 hours." So yes, this is a surprise to say the least. Doesn't mean I wouldn't do it over again, but I would put it as a CON to this procedure that I should have been aware of beforehand.

And that's my point mattie ... you SHOULD have been made aware. But you are definitely right about "making the sale". It is unfortunate, because the truth about the surgery is not so bad, it's just not the "quick fix" that many believe it is.

Having the lapband is different for different people ... fluffy, I rarely feel "physical" hunger ... but, I didn't feel "physical" hunger before the band very often either. I was/am an emotional eater. The band helps me to not binge when I feel an uncomfortable emotion. I have learned through therapy that eating doesn't really stifle the emotion, not really. So, now I brave it out and deal with the emotion without food (95%) of the time now that I am banded. Even without enough knowledge about the band, I am very glad that I have it. For me it has been a life saver!

~Fran

Well put and I'm totally with you on this.

And that's my point mattie ... you SHOULD have been made aware. But you are definitely right about "making the sale". It is unfortunate, because the truth about the surgery is not so bad, it's just not the "quick fix" that many believe it is.

Having the lapband is different for different people ... fluffy, I rarely feel "physical" hunger ... but, I didn't feel "physical" hunger before the band very often either. I was/am an emotional eater. The band helps me to not binge when I feel an uncomfortable emotion. I have learned through therapy that eating doesn't really stifle the emotion, not really. So, now I brave it out and deal with the emotion without food (95%) of the time now that I am banded. Even without enough knowledge about the band, I am very glad that I have it. For me it has been a life saver!

~Fran

I'm sure I will feel that way too, it's just not quite what I expected. I'm not disappointed though. And unfortunately, I understand why doctors have to "make the sale" in our mixed up world. Anyway, I'm sure in a few months all I'll be thinking of is weight loss too and when someone asks me, it probably won't occur to me to tell them how starving I was at first!

And that's my point mattie ... you SHOULD have been made aware. But you are definitely right about "making the sale". It is unfortunate, because the truth about the surgery is not so bad, it's just not the "quick fix" that many believe it is.

Having the lapband is different for different people ... fluffy, I rarely feel "physical" hunger ... but, I didn't feel "physical" hunger before the band very often either. I was/am an emotional eater. The band helps me to not binge when I feel an uncomfortable emotion. I have learned through therapy that eating doesn't really stifle the emotion, not really. So, now I brave it out and deal with the emotion without food (95%) of the time now that I am banded. Even without enough knowledge about the band, I am very glad that I have it. For me it has been a life saver!

~Fran